Edward howard



(No Model.) 4

E. HOWARD.

METHOD OF TREATING TOBAUGO.

No. 273,362. Patented Mar.6. 1883.

O Hum/mop F3 3 N. PETERS. Phowumo nplyr, wahingtnn. D. Q

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD HOWARD, F GASPORT, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF TREATING TOBACCO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,362, dated March 6, 1883.

' Application filed July 19, 1882. (No model.)

in g tobacco by heat, whereby the noxiousquali:

ties are removed-such as nicotine, ammonia, bitter extractiue, 850.; and the process will serve the end for which it is designed, whether the treatment is before, during, or after the tobacco is made into plug, cigars, 8m. Nicotine in composition is H O N with no oxygen, and therefore boils and decomposes atamuch lower temperature than some writers have stated.

In my experiments with. pure nicotine I find that it begins to boil by exposure to a degree of heat from 375 to 380 Fahrenheit. At this point the alkaloid begins to boil and turns black, and on the heat being continued it becomes a thick black residuum,like pastylampblack. The fragrancy of tobacco does not depend on this poisonous nicotine, but on substances which require for their decomposition above 400 Fahrenheit, they being oxygenized hydrocarbons. The other noxious qualities will be destroyed as readily as the nicotine. A quantity of nicotine is carried ofl' with the superheated steam when the temperature is but a few degrees above 212 vFahrenheit, and continues to be removed as the. heat is increased; but only the surface nicotine is thus removed. To destroy the whole of the nicotine, the heat must be carried to 376 Fahrenheit, or more.

The accompanying drawing forms a part of this specification, and illustrates the apparatus with which the process is preferably practiced.

The figure shows an elevation of a steamgenerator and a section of a chest or vat, in which'the tobacco is to be placed.

In carrying out the invention I prefer to use the device shown in the drawing, which is a steam generator combined with a chest, in which the tobacco is placed.

A is a sheet-iron air-tight case; B, a perforated boxv or chest for holding the tobacco,

, somewhat smaller than case A. The lid of the chest overlaps the case A, as shown, and. has a lip on the inside of the case for making a tight joint.

O is the generator, provided with a valve, 9, to allow the introduction of water or the exit of steam.

e is a pipe,'provided' with the cock f, conveying steam to the chest. The pipe enters the chest between the inner box, 13, and the outer case, A.

dis a sheath in which to let down a thermometer to try the temperature. The sheath d is provided with an aperture near the bottom, so as to insure the same temperature both in it and outside of it in the box.

h is a handle to lift the box B out of the case A. The box B is provided with a slide on one side, which allows of removal and replacement to permit the tobacco to be put in.

Having placed the tobacco or cigars into the box B and set the box in position in the case A, the whole being set upon a'stove orover a lamp, D, as shown, to super-heat the steam, the generator is started, and when the thermometer in case d indicates 385 or390 Fahrenheit I continue at this heat for ten or fifteen minutes. I then cut off the steam and allow the heat to moderate until it reaches about 212 Fahrenheit. Then I fill the box with steam at the temperature of 212 Fahrenheit,

and let it remain until cold, in order toimpart a slight moisture to the contained tobacco. The process is now completed, and when the tobacco is removed it will be ready for use,

having all the noxious qualities removed, as

heretofore stated. Some of the nicotine is carried off in vapor, as before stated, as soon as the temperature exceeds 212 Fahrenheit, while to completely destroy the nicotine it is necessary to run the heat up to the high degrees named.

It is practicable to practice the process with other means. I may with good effect use a 'jar partially filled with lard, and when it has been brought to about 200 Fahrenheit I place in it a lead-sealed jar or can having tobacco or cigars in it, and then bring the temperature up to 380 or 355 Fahrenheit. 1 hold it at this temperature for ten or fifteen minutes, as

before. I have in my experiments used this mode of procedure some; but I prefer thatdescribed in connection with the drawing. I believe it is practicable to attain a much better result with the steam process. The temperature should always beintensein practicingthe process herein set forth, and the degrees named are l'ound to be the best. It is, however, always essential to the complete treatment to bring the heat up to at least .360 Fahrenheit, and in some instances to 390 Fahrenheit.

. What I claim is The process otremovingnicotine and the bittcr extrnctine from tobacco, which consists in subjecting the tobacco to heat and increasing the heat to adegree between 360 Fahrenheit and 390 Fahrenheit while the tobacco remains subjected to it, as herein set forth.

EDWARD HOWARD.

Witnesses:

EDlTII A. HOWARD, EMILY M. HOWARD. 

